An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:

Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

Quote:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

It is kind of cool to see them come out with something that has a little attitude and expectation. I just hope it's not a bit too early.... then again if it is who cares...

Yeah, I mean if the team falls flat on its face (again), no one's gunna blame the marketing department. And other than White Sux fans, no one hates KC enough to remember it very long. On the other hand, if the team is competitive (or God forbid makes the playoffs), "Our Time" can be a good way to get people to the ballpark, put on t-shirts, commercials, etc.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Kansas City Royals owner David Glass believes small-market franchises must do whatever it takes to lock up young talent long term, even if it's a sometimes risky proposition.

That means the pressure is on Royals general manager Dayton Moore.

The Royals are expected to field the youngest team in baseball this season, though that hasn't diminished expectations. Many expect them to challenge Detroit in the AL Central behind a cadre of youthful stars such as first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas.

Glass said he expects Moore to begin discussions with both of them on long-term deals as early as this season, even though they just arrived from the minor leagues last year.

"The Indians, the Rays and other people have had some success in keeping the young ones," Glass told The Associated Press on Monday. "I think we've got a special group, and keeping them together and the best of the crop is really important to us."

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"We like where we are," Dayton Moore said. "Six of the nine players in the lineup for us most days will be homegrown talent, and two of the remaining three will be players we acquired through trades of players that were in our system. Now the players need to go out and play."

The Royals expect another rookie in Lorenzo Cain to start in center field, while left fielder Alex Gordon has talked about signing a long-term deal of his own after a breakout 2011 season.

"It's very slow talks, but I don't think anybody is in a rush to get something done because I have two years left," Gordon said. "Hopefully, eventually, we can get something done."

Glass has always defended the Royals' often meager payroll, but there are signs he's willing to loosen the purse strings - especially if the team is finally in contention.

That could be this season, if expectations turn into results.

"We're never going to be able to do what the big markets do," Glass said. "The Yankees, if they can have $200-million plus, they're always going to have two or three times as much as the rest of us.

"But there's enough flexibility there," he said. "What small markets need to do is position themselves so if they year's going well and they've got a shot at winning their division, then you need to be able to step up and add to that mix whatever you need, whatever you think you need to win."